Ever since I got my first e-reader, I just accepted it as a modern miracle. Marie Lebert's book showed me there's a whole forgotten history behind that screen.

The Story

This isn't a story about one company or one gadget. Lebert takes us back to the 1970s, introducing us to the pioneers—often volunteers and academics—who started digitizing books by hand, typing them into early computers. We follow their struggle through the 80s and 90s, watching them battle with clunky hardware, skeptical publishers, and the sheer enormity of the task. The 'plot' is their relentless push to make digital reading a reality, long before the infrastructure or the market existed to support it.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me was how personal it feels. These weren't faceless corporations; they were librarians, researchers, and idealists working on passion projects. Lebert lets their voices and their early, often charmingly awkward, digital creations take center stage. It makes you appreciate that the convenience we enjoy today was built on decades of volunteer effort and stubborn belief in the power of shared knowledge.

Final Verdict

Perfect for curious readers who love their e-readers but have never thought about where they came from. If you enjoy stories about underdog innovators or the hidden history of everyday technology, you'll get a real kick out of this. It’s a short, fascinating look back that will make the book in your pocket feel a little more magical.